Tigertailz - Southampton 1865 - 5th March 2024

For a Tuesday school night, this is going to be hard to beat. Picked up before the end of school and transported by car with Mum and Dad, a smooth run for the 205 mile journey and a quick stop for a Greggs on the way!

We went straight to the venue to set up. All the staff were very nice at the 1865 in Southampton which we found out is home soil for Tigertailz lead singer Ashley and the only venue on the tour allowing under 14s in which I was very grateful for. The venue was nice and on entering a lively audience awaited. We watched the end of the opening support Termination Force and I was setup by the time The Crash Landing came on. Both supports warmed up the crowd and allowed me to test my cameras and get warmed up.

We met the tour manager next Tessa who was lovely and told me to shoot from anywhere and enjoy it – I didn’t need telling twice and by the time Tigertailz came on I was ready and waiting.

Dad and I have been listening to their music again recently and my favourite track has to be Love Bomb Baby (played as the last song of the set) that Dad says is over 30 years old, when he was still young and had more hair.

For the next 90 minutes, I really enjoyed the show and experience, I was allowed everywhere and stayed in the pit for the whole show. All of the band (Ashley, Berty and Jay) interacted with me so much which was great. I checked in with Dad every once in a while who borrowed my long lens camera on a few occasions to take some photos near the bar. I think he may have had a drink every time he borrowed the lens! But seeing him singing and enjoying himself was well worth it.

At the end of the night, I bagged a set list, packed up my gear and headed to the merchandise area to meet the band. They all remembered me from last March and thanked me for coming and looked forward to seeing the photos. We made some purchases and they all chatted and gladly signed everything before we left.

Everyone was so nice from the venue staff, the audience, tour management and of course the band.

The only downside was getting up before 6 am to catch the train back up to Lincoln and getting back into school at 1145 am, but what a 21 hours I had, and I would do it all again tomorrow!